Overview

'Utterly fascinating.' - James Holland 'First-class... The intense rivalry of Monty and Patton is one of the great stories of the war, and has never been told better.' - Andrew Roberts Born in the two decades prior to World War I, George Patton, Bernard Montgomery and Erwin Rommel became among the most recognized and successful military leaders of the twentieth century. However, as acclaimed military historian Lloyd Clark reveals in his penetrating and insightful chronicle of their lives, they charted very different, often interrupted, paths to their ultimate leadership positions commanding hundreds of thousands of troops during World War II. Each faced battle for the first time in World War I, a searing experience that greatly influenced their future approach to war and leadership. When war broke out again in 1939, Montgomery and Rommel were immediately engaged, while Patton chafed until the US joined the Allies in 1942 and the three men, by then generals, collided in North Africa in 1943, and then again, climactically, in France after D-Day in 1944. Weaving letters, diary extracts, official reports and other documents into his original narrative, recounting dramatic battles as they developed on the ground and at headquarters, Clark also explores the controversies that swirled around Patton, Montgomery and Rommel throughout their careers, sometimes threatening to derail them. Ultimately, however, their unique abilities to bridge the space between leader and led cemented their legendary reputations.

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Reviews

Lloyd Clark continues his run of first-class military history with this insightful investigation of the best three generals from each of the major armies on the Western Front in the Second World War. This treble-biography highlights both the interaction of these commanders with each other, and where they stood in the constantly shifting command structure of their own sides. It's intensely readable, well-researched and stuffed full of leadership lessons for the modern day, plus the intense rivalry of Monty and Patton is one of the great stories of the war, and has never been told better. -- Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny Utterly fascinating. Lloyd Clark demonstrates his deep and wide-ranging knowledge in this compelling new look at three of the most iconic commanders of World War II. With genuinely fresh insights, immense wisdom and thought-provoking analysis, this is a superb account of these three men, divided by different nationalities but with uncanny similarities in ambition, character and motivation. -- James Holland, author of Brothers At Arms Clark fixes his focus on the intersection of personality and military leadership through the prism of three individualists. Details such as teaching styles, sense of theater and interactions with soldiers create wonderful three-dimensional models of the war's iconic leaders. * Wall Street Journal * A fascinating group portrait of three of WWII's most innovative and illustrious generals. . . Brimming with incisive character sketches and strategic analysis, this is a captivating study of leadership in action.' * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * Engaging... Military history buffs and those wanting to learn about leadership and management styles from three important men of the 20th century will likely eagerly consume this tremendous work. * Library Journal (starred review) * A veteran military historian delves into the leadership qualities of three iconic World War II commanders... Astute and entertaining. * Kirkus Reviews * The Commanders effectively bridges the gap between academic and popular history and will be read with enjoyment. Well-written and solidly researched, it is recommended. -- Graham Goodlad * Military History Matters *

Lloyd Clark continues his run of first-class military history with this insightful investigation of the best three generals from each of the major armies on the Western Front in the Second World War. This treble-biography highlights both the interaction of these commanders with each other, and where they stood in the constantly shifting command structure of their own sides. It's intensely readable, well-researched and stuffed full of leadership lessons for the modern day, plus the intense rivalry of Monty and Patton is one of the great stories of the war, and has never been told better. -- Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny Utterly fascinating. Lloyd Clark demonstrates his deep and wide-ranging knowledge in this compelling new look at three of the most iconic commanders of World War II. With genuinely fresh insights, immense wisdom and thought-provoking analysis, this is a superb account of these three men, divided by different nationalities but with uncanny similarities in ambition, character and motivation. -- James Holland, author of Brothers in Arms Clark fixes his focus on the intersection of personality and military leadership through the prism of three individualists. Details such as teaching styles, sense of theater and interactions with soldiers create wonderful three-dimensional models of the war's iconic leaders. * Wall Street Journal * A fascinating group portrait of three of WWII's most innovative and illustrious generals. . . Brimming with incisive character sketches and strategic analysis, this is a captivating study of leadership in action.' * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * Engaging... Military history buffs and those wanting to learn about leadership and management styles from three important men of the 20th century will likely eagerly consume this tremendous work. * Library Journal (starred review) * A veteran military historian delves into the leadership qualities of three iconic World War II commanders... Astute and entertaining. * Kirkus Reviews * The Commanders effectively bridges the gap between academic and popular history and will be read with enjoyment. Well-written and solidly researched, it is recommended. -- Graham Goodlad * Military History Matters *

Author Information

Lloyd Clark is founder and Director of Research of the Centre for Army Leadership based at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and Professorial Research Fellow in War Studies, Humanities Research Institute, University of Buckingham. He is the author of: Anzio: The Friction of War (2006), Arnhem: Jumping the Rhine1944 and 1945 (2008); Kursk: The Greatest Battle - The Eastern Front 1943 (2011); and Blitzkrieg: Myth, Reality, and Hitler's Lightning War: France 1940 (2015). He is a frequent contributor to the broadcast media and is in demand as a lecturer on leadership and military history around the world. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and has three grown up children and four working dogs.

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